Today we figured we would follow a strategy that would involve missing the big Zion crowds and, surprisingly, it worked. We started out the day by driving in the east side of the park on UT-9, continued through the park until exiting the west boundary and continued westbound. We passed through Springdale which is almost at the park’s western boundary. We also went through some other towns with strange names like Virgin (where it appeared there were none), another named something like La Merkin or La Jerkin where we turned on a little road taking us to I-15. On the way to the interstate, we passed through a place called Toquerville but it can’t be named after an activity because this is Utah. We have seen few tokers here.
We got on I-15 north for about a 20 mile drive through thunderstorms and then got off the freeway at exit 40 which leads to Kolob Canyon, a part of Zion NP where there are almost no visitors. Our Federal Access Pass which we bought last year in the Black Hills of South Dakota got us around the $30 entry fee and we headed up the road into this stunning part of Zion NP. The road through Kolob Canyon takes motorists on a spectacular drive through a canyon where the road climbs to over 6000′ elevation but is still a long way from the top of the terrain. The bottom of the canyon is hundreds and then about a thousand feet below you and the surrounding mountains extend many thousands of feet above you. There are emerald green sections of vegetation perched on any soil to be found and the flowers were both vibrantly colored and abundant. The surrounding rock formations are truly majestic and awe-inspiring. It is just gorgeous here. This place is an absolutely beautiful and little-known treasure. It is worth the short side trip from the interstate and the $30.
After about 90 minutes here, we jumped back on I-15 toward the main park entrance through Toquerville, La Merkin, No Virgins and back in the west side of the park on UT-9. It was by now 5:00 PM and the bulk of the visitors had left the park, leaving the facility visitor center and, more importantly, the park trolleys empty. We jumped onto an almost empty trolley at the visitor center and took the magnificent ride into the main valley floor. Private vehicles are banned from the valley floor since a narrow road, thousands of visitors in cars and scant parking or pullouts do not mix. The shuttle ride takes visitors on an awe-inspiring ride through nine stops up to the Temple of Sinawava. Many park features were named in the past and the names do not seem very appropriate for today. There are no places with names like the Temple of the Landless Squatters, Valley of the Land-grabbing Weasels, Synagogue of the Shiksas or Meadow of the Filthy Campers because there is no camping on the valley floor. There is a lodge here where the very rich can rent a condo and walk to the park’s abundant and beautiful features but ordinary mortals are right out.
Peggy and I got off the shuttle a few times to gaze at the fantastic scenery. Since a shuttle comes by every 8 or 10 minutes, visiting the main valley floor by shuttle is easy and practical. It is also free, once you are inside the park. Breathtaking vistas are on all sides of you. This place is very beautiful and truly amazing. I give it ten of ten stars or things or thumbs up. The only part I could possibly complain about is there are not enough places to stop the vehicle and get out for a look-see due to the configuration of the park and it’s roads. There is little the NPS could have done better here. This place is stunning.
We took some photos during today’s excursion which you can see if you click here